SA's strategies to combat US tariff hike

Punitive 30% import duty kicks in today

- MANYANE MANYANE [e-mail]

THE government says it has put various alternative mechanisms in place to tackle the proposed US 30% import tariff on South African exporters.

The tariff kicks in today.

South Africa is among several countries facing punitive tariffs from the US as it moves to protect its own manufacturer and labour force.

US President Donald Trump announced the tariffs in April, but delayed them for 90 days to allow countries to negotiate better deals.

South Africa has been trying to negotiate a trade deal with the US since May but is yet to agree on terms.

On Tuesday, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) said it remains committed to the cause and awaits substantive feedback from the US on the final status of the country’s framework deal.

The department said it has been in a period of intense negotiations with the US and had signed a condition precedent document and “have readied our inputs for entry into the template which is to follow from the US”.

“Despite the challenges that have been presented by this period, we have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks that have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios,” the department said.